AT THE UNIVERSITY 6 



secured rooms, took a walking tour in Normandy and Brittany 

 for a fortnight, and behold me at length here since last Wednesday r 

 taking part in the Ass. 



It is the best thing I could have done, for I have made the 

 acquaintance with a whole lot of chemists, Dutch and French, 

 and have found an old Dutchman named Gunning ravished to 

 find someone who shares his ideas about matter, chemical com- 

 bination, etc. We excurted together yesterday the whole day 

 and talked French and German alternately all the time. When 

 we wanted to be particularly distinct precise French was all the 

 go. For energy and strong denunciation German came of use. 

 You can't say ' Potz-teufel ! ' in French or ' Donnerwetter 

 potztausend Sacramento ! ' 



An old cove, also a Dutchman, De Vrij, with bowly legs and a 

 visage like this [sketch profile] is also a very nice old boy. The 

 nose is the chief feature of resemblance in the annexed repre- 

 sentation. Wurtz and Schiitzenberger are both Alsatians and 

 of course are much more gemuthlich than the echter Franzose, 

 but on the whole the fellows I have got to know are very pleasant. 

 Some of the younger lot and I kneipe every evening. Then we 

 bathe every day too in fine stormy water. 



Eh bien, what is there to say of more ? I am going straight 

 back to Glasgow on Wednesday by the special steamer to Glasgow. 

 My money is about done, so I must bolt. I have done with 

 holidays this year and am as a giant awakened. Do come back 

 before the session commences, and let us get some work done. 

 By the way I forgot to tell you that I had the cheek to read a 

 communication on picoline, in French, which was received with 

 loud applause. There were some remarks made afterwards very 

 favorable, tho' I say it as shouldn't say it. Adoo. Write to- 

 Glasgow and tell me Wie's geht. 



Yours very sincerely, 



W. RAMSAY." 



